Words with Wings by Nikki Grimes

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Grimes, Nikki. 2013. WORDS WITH WINGS. Pennsylvania: WordSong. ISBN 9781590789858

SUMMARY:

Welcome to the fictional world of Gabby.  To escape the angry words of her home, her days are spent daydreaming.  The imagination is celebrated through this outstanding novel written in verse.  The words are few, but full of power, meaning, and spirit of hope for a different life.

QUALITY & APPEAL:

Age Range:  8 years and up
Grade level:  3rd grade and up
Educators will be inspired by this novel as a loving and patient teacher assists young Gabby in capturing her daydreams, putting them down on paper, and inspiring new dreams. The power of the imagination and of words is remarkably demonstrated in this wonderful piece of poetry.  The layout of this novel will be beneficial to any reader as the Table of Contents and titles guide the reader.

The language the author uses speaks for and to every daydreamer with its vivid sensory details and rhythm that helps the reading escape with Gabby.  Students, daydreamers or not, will be drawn in and inspired by the melody of Grimes' words as they are so beautifully chosen and written.

SPOTLIGHT POEM:  (Excerpt from page 63)

PLANETARIUM

David's mom

takes him on a trip

to the planetarium.

I know because

I get to go!

We lean back in our seats,

feel the dark wrap round us

like Saturn's rings,

and hold our breaths,

staring up at a night sky

speckled with starlight

and bigger than

all our dreams

slung together.

Can't wait to see

what drawings

David will do.

Me, I gather new words

like moon rocks,

souvenirs I get to keep

long after we leave.

CONNECTION:

Educators could share this poem during science lessons about planets.  Would be wonderful to share before a trip to a local planetarium as well. Slowly read through the above poem several times to allow students to experience the thoughts and feelings shared by the author.  Discuss the end of the poem, where Gabby talks about "...gather new words like moon rocks..." 

• In conjunction with the science lesson, allow small groups to brainstorm characteristic of a chosen planet.  
• Allow students to expand on their adjectives using a thesaurus.  
• Students, using PLANETARIUM as a mentor text, and "gather new words like moon rocks, souvenirs ... to keep ..."
• Students, working in their small group, create a poem using their old and new adjectives describing their chosen planet.
• Students neatly write their newly created poem on a poster.
• Students creatively decorate their poster illustrating key terms and topics found within their poem creating a visual that matches their poem.
• Display posters for all to see.
• Allow students to do a gallery tour to read, view, and experience their peers' poetry and artistic work, offering positive feedback on post-it notes.

LINKS:

• http://www.poetry4kids.com/blog/news/words-with-wings-by-nikki-grimes/